Infantry Assault Badge In Silver

                                                             The Russian Front Medal

The Russian Front Medal was introduced on May 26^th 1942 to recognise those whom had taken part in the first Russian winter engagement. For such an award the recipient had to meet the following criteria between November 15^th 1941 and April 26^th 1942.

To have taken part in fourteen days combat or thirty sorties for Luftwaffe pilots and crew.

To have spent sixty days in a combat zone.

To have received wounds or frostbite severe enough to qualify for a wound badge.

This award was also know as the “Frozen Meat Medal” or the “Frozen Flesh Medal” of which over 3 million were awarded.

The Russian Front Medal

                                                              The General Assault Badge

The General Assault Badge approved by Generaloberst von Brauchitsch (Commander-in-Chief of the Army) on June 1^st 1940. These awards were awarded to non infantry troops who took part in no less than three engagements whom did not qualify for the Infantry Assault Badge such as, artillery, pioneers, tank destroyers and medical personnel etc. As the war dragged on it became evident that the award had become inadequate as by then many soldiers had taken part in a multiple of actions. On June 22ed 1943 four more General Assault Badges were instituted and award to those whom had taken part in 25, 50, 75 and 100 enemy engagements.

                                                                                              General Assault Badge (50 engagements)

                                                                      The Close Combat Clasp

The close combat clasp was instituted on November 25^th 1942 and was available in three grades, bronze (awarded for fifteen days close- quarter fighting) silver (awarded for thirty days close- quarter fighting) and gold (awarded for fifty days close- quarter fighting) if the qualifying recipient was wounded the criteria was reduced to 10, 20 and 40 days.Because the award could back-dated to the begining of the war, a scale of combat days and length of service was devised which would give soldiers five days (credit) towards the award for 8 months service, ten days credit for 12 months service and fifteen days for 15 months service which had to be spent in continuous fighting to qualify.

 The Panzer Assault Badge

The Panzer Assault Badge was introduced in December 1939 (silver)

to recognize the achievements of Panzer crews who took part in armoured assaults. Another award in bronze became instituted in June 1940 and was awarded to armoured troops who travelled in armoured personnel carriers such as half tracks etc, as opposed to motorized infantry whom received the bronze infantry assault badge and travelled in lorries etc. By June 1943 four more of these awards were instituted for those whom participated in 25, 55, 75 and 100 actions.

                                                                                               The Panzer Assault Badge In Silver

                                                                      The Wound Badge

The wound badge was available in three grades, black, silver and gold. To qualify for the black award the recipient need to have been wounded 1 or 2 times, 3 or 4 times for the silver award and 5 or more for the gold award which could also be awarded to those with one very serious injury such as brain damage, the loss of sight or a limb.

                                                                     The Wound Badge In Black

                                                             The Tank Destruction Award

The tank destruction award was instituted on March 9^th 1942 and awarded to those soldiers whom entirely on their own actions destroyed an enemy tank using a hand held weapon such as mines, satchel charges, grenades or panzerfausts etc. On December 18^th 1943 a gold braided version became available and was awarded to those who had destroyed at least five tanks

                                                                 The Tank Destruction Award in Silver

                                                                      The German Cross

The German Cross was made available on September 28^th 1941 and came in two versions, a silver version for military service and a gold version for gallantry or outstanding achievements in combat, this award ranked between the Iron Cross first class and the Knight’s Cross  of which around 30,000 gold awards were issued.

                                                                       The German Cross In Silver

                                                                                The Iron Cross

The Iron Cross was not a new award in WW2 but became “modernized” with the date changed and a swastika added for this period. Two types of the Iron Cross were available, the second class of which 2 million were awarded and the First Class version of which around 3000,000 were awarded.

The Iron Cross First Class                         

                                                                                                

The Iron Cross Second Class                

                                                                        The Knight’s Cross

The Knight’s Cross was added to the Iron Cross series of awards in 1939 of which around 7000 were awarded. To recognise other acts of gallantry or meritorious conduct of the recipient the award could be upgraded with the addition of Oakleaves which were instituted on June 3^rd 1940. Additional upgrades were the Swords and Oakleaves, the Swords Oakleaves and Diamonds, and the Golden Swords and Oakleaves and Diamonds.

                                                    The knight's Cross with Oakleaves , Swords & Diamonds

                                                                       *Under Construction*

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